SHAHEEN HONORS NEW HAMPSHIRE VETERANS WITH MEDAL CEREMONY

(Manchester, NH) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen’s office helped five New Hampshire veterans secure long overdue medals for service in Korea and Vietnam and the veterans were honored at a medals ceremony this morning in Manchester.  Brigadier General Carolyn Protzmann, Colonel Paul Loiselle and Commander David Kenney joined Senator Shaheen at the ceremony to honor Philip Meader, John Parker, James Smith, Ronald Lemire and Jim Keefe. 

“It was a great privilege to honor these brave and selfless veterans this morning with recognition that was long overdue,” said Senator Shaheen. “Our veterans have made tremendous sacrifices for our country and we owe it to them, and their families, to honor their service.”

The medals distributed at this morning’s ceremony include:

Philip Meader:

- Vietnam Service Medal

- Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

John Parker:

- Good Conduct Medal

- National Defense Service Medal

James Smith:

- Air Force Commendation Medal

- Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars

- United Nations Service Medal

- Good Conduct Medal with two Bronze Loops

- National Defense Service Medals with one Bronze Service Star

- Vietnam Service Medal with three Bronze Service Stars

- Vietnam Campaign Medal

- Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm

- Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon

- Air Force Longevity Service Award with three Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters

- Air Force Good Conduct Medal with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters

Ronald Lemire:

-Vietnam Service Medal

Jim Keefe:

- Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V.”

Shaheen has made supporting New Hampshire veterans and their families a top priority in the senate. She has introduced programs that will help reduce the Department of Veterans Affairs disability claims backlog and has worked to reduce veteran homelessness, a serious concern for veterans in New Hampshire.  She has also worked to expand access to military benefits for same-sex military couples and cosponsored legislation that would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide a full-service VA hospital for veterans in New Hampshire.

To view photos from today’s events click here.